Japanese DS Game Substantially Different Than US?

Eurogamer has the story that the Nintendo DS title Mr. Driller may have a very different feature set in the US and Japan. From the article: "According to widespread reports - which we've been unable to confirm as we haven't got a copy of either version - the Japanese version allows players to engage in various multiplayer battles in groups of up to four players using just one of the DS's game cards, whereas the US version requires multiple copies to achieve the same result." Interesting, if cynical, decision.

Comments

Not only is it missing download play...

[Gunsmithy]

...but also, apparently an entire mode.

Dristone/Drillstone mode is a sort of RPG mode, and I guess the US version doesn't have it--Namco did reply to an inquiry about the exclusion of some features here.

"We didn't have the time to implement the some elements/features in order to make the DS launch date in North America,"

Which is kind of funny, as they launched simultaneously.

Re:Why?

[Jahf]

It wouldn't be the first time and I don't think it is a decision based on the economies of the 2 regions (as in one country not being able to afford as many games). I do think that you are close in that this is likely a socio-economic decions (as in the social norms of each country determining which policy is more economically sound).

In Japan people are more social players ... in other words, it isn't going to look "weird" to see a number of young adults playing together on DS systems in a public gathering place. Therefore the inclusion of a mode where you only need 1 cartridge to play will drive sales of the base unit.

In the U.S. we have far less focus on social gaming and are willing toi pay out the nose for games ... therefore there is little if any advantage to "giving away" the multi-player game since someone who wants to play a GBDS game will likely already have a GBDS. In other words, the impetus to buy the system in Japan is driven by a social desire while in the U.S. it appears to be a more -antisocial- behaviour since we in the U.S. often use such devices to exclude ourselves and "create space". I know I use it that way on a plane as do many others (though if I could wirelessly game on a plane with the kid a few rows up without us both having to own the cart, I would be quite likely too ... I think the U.S. antisocial playing style is often because vendors assume we aren't social players).

Note that I am not saying -no one- plays multiplayer games ... my wife and I have GBAs to play multiplayer and having to buy 2 games usually keeps us from doing so. That's a lot of dough in the end when we could just buy 2 different carts and swap them.

And for those U.S. players who say "hey! I play socially" / "I wish I could play socially, it's not my fault" ... I agree with you ... but looking at the styles of multiplayer gaming here compared to Asia it doesn't change the fact that it is less of a culture here.

However, as others mentioned there is apparently a missing game -mode- in the U.S. version ... if this were true I would think that to be a bad decision since the U.S. version is obviously willing to pay a premium to get multiplayer.

I am making a guess here ... purely a guess ... but is it possible that the ratio of the price of the console to the price of game carts is higher in Japan than the U.S.? I am talking about the ratio of console:carts not the direct price of the console in Yen to the price of the console in U.$. If not, then I assume that the Japanese market must by a lot more games in total than the U.S. market does (# of carts, not cost of carts).